A FAB DAY OUT

Back in 1977, Space 1999 superfan Mark Anthony Craig a Look-In competition and the chance to meet his idol Gerry Anderson. He shares this unique experience with Infinity readers, as well as his own fascinating model work…

Anything can happen in the next half hour as Mark and his dad meet the legendary Gerry Anderson. Happy memories from the 1970s

Early 1965. The Anglia region of ITV (part of the UK television network) is showing either first run or repeated episodes of Gerry Anderson’s Stingray television series. Having just turned two years of age I am sat on my father’s lap in front of the black and white television set, and am enthralled for 30 minutes as the screen is filled with exciting action, tension, explosions, shoot-outs, terrific and appealing puppet characters, all manner of fantastic ships, aircraft, and the iconic submarine itself. In those days, “Anything could happen in the next half hour”, and frequently did!

But my dad wasn’t only sitting there with me watching it for my enjoyment. He also had a fascination for the futuristic craft shown on the series. At that time, he was in the Royal Air Force (RAF). Originally an air frame fitter when he started his National Service in 1948, he had signed up to stay on for a further 27 years. His job was maintaining and repairing combat aircraft, but in his spare time he would drive my mother mad, taking apart her latest electronic gadgets such as food mixers, washing machines, toasters and kettles. He said it was to familiarise himself with how the gadgets should look when they were working properly - so that he would know how to fix them if they ever broke down.

Despite my father’s abilities as a mechanic, I - unfortunately - never took after him. Even today, the workings of engines under the bonnets of cars are the equivalent of hieroglyphics to me, and most tools in my hands are about as useful as Doctor Who’s sonic screwdriver would be to a Neolithic caveman. I know a hammer can drive in nails - but in my case they never go straight and often get bent half way in